Lawsuit may have forced Microsoft to change what it means to be Vista Capable

Two weeks ago, Dianne Kelley started a class-action
lawsuit against Microsoft alleging the software company is engaging in
deceptive practices by branding new computers with a Windows Vista Capable
logo even if they couldn't run the all the new operating system’s features.

Although Microsoft strongly refutes Kelley’s claims, the
threat of a lawsuit may have triggered the company to change its language on
what “Vista Capable” means. As clipped by a blog at the Seattle
Times, Microsoft originally described its Windows Vista Capable program
as the following (all bold emphasis added by Seattle Times author):

“Through the Windows Vista Capable program, Windows XP-based PCs
that are powerful enough to run Windows Vista are now available from
leading PC manufacturers worldwide, including Acer Inc., Dell Inc., Fujitsu
Limited, Gateway Inc., HP, Lenovo, NEC Corp., Sony Corp., Toshiba and more. The
Windows Vista Capable logo is designed to assure customers that the PCs they
buy today will be ready for an upgrade to Windows Vista and can run the core
experiences of Windows Vista.”

Shortly following
the news of the lawsuit, the explanation of the Windows Vista Capable program
appeared to have changed to this:

“A new PC running Windows XP that carries the Windows Vista Capable PC
logo can run Windows Vista. All editions of Windows Vista will deliver core
experiences such as innovations in organizing and finding information,
security, and reliability. All Windows Vista Capable PCs will run these core
experiences at a minimum. Some features available in the premium editions
of Windows Vista — like the new Windows Aero user experience — may require advanced
or additional hardware.”

While both the original and updated descriptions mention
that Vista Capable means being able to run the “core experience,” the updated
passage clearly states those experiences will run at a minimum.

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So to Mr. Dumbass they'll think "Vista Capable" means it has the stuff they saw on TV, and "Vista Premium Ready" means it's got some extra stuff I don't need. I think "Vista Home" should be called "Windows Classic" and "Vista Premium" should be called "Vista Home". After all, Aero and Media Center are the only noticeable differences between regular XP & Vista, and those only come with Vista Premium.

Here is a Microsoft example of reality verses customer expectations.Spending half an hour explaining that Microsoft Windows does not include Microsoft Office. Nowhere does it say that the Office is a part of windows. But people expect it because they are both Microsoft and as far as the customer sees,they are always together (at a friends house, workplace etc.).

Now add the extra wrinkle of the different versions of office and Windows. A person does not have to be an idiot to be confused and to expect more. Now the real fun part is in telling him/her how much office will cost to get publisher and powerpoint.

Dude, they updated more than that I think......95 was still FAT32 file organization, with a maximum file size of 1 byte under 4 gigs, while XP is NTFS file organization, with a much much much bigger file size...I am not exactly sure how large.....The UI change was minor in comparison to a file system change.

That is my biggest beef with Vista....it was supposed to have a new file system, but they cheaped out at the end and stayed with NTFS. Now the only selling point is DX 10 and RAM addressing for up to 128 gigs. Good steps, but a new file system would have been nice.

The new color palette is more pleasing to the eye, but I'm sure someone already has a WinXP layout to do that, and it hardly counts as much of an upgrade. And the sidebar is just a nicer version of an idea that was around in Win98 and never caught on (don't think I like it now either). I've only been using Vista for a week, but it really seems to me like XP with more eye candy, an annoyingly detailed control panel, and directories shuffled around a bit.

As for the XP vs. 98 post, WinXP was much more stable than Win98. I still occasionally use a Win98 laptop and try to avoid the internet with it like the plague, because inevitably it soon locks up.